DAY 74

It is the last week of school. Most of what the teacher has assigned is what I would call "busy work". A math game, which she played with a classmate. An end of the year Distance Learning Memories activity. Creating a video to talk about their favorite memories of the year. I am usually relieved at the end of the school year, glad to be done with the routine of packing lunches, homework after school, waiting for the bus in the morning and afternoon. This year is so different because we have not done those things for months already. Now I feel like I usually do about the middle of August, anxious for school to start again.

One of the things that has happened here at our house is a more structured schedule of chores for Miss Nine and College Boy. I have randomly enforced chores for years, Now I put all of their chores on a calendar. I taped one to each of their bedroom doors. I also put one on the refrigerator. One of my goals for the summer is to encourage these two to learn more life skills. I realize how much I have done myself because it is easier than trying to get them to do it properly (according to my standards). I am doing them a disservice by not letting them learn from their mistakes. They both have done their own laundry for a long time. Miss Nine actually likes doing it. College Boy usually waits until he has absolutely nothing to wear before he does his. Now that he is staying in the same pajamas for days in a row he can go quite a while before he feels compelled to start a load. They have been taking turns washing and drying/putting away the dishes. They frequently disagree about how this should be done. Miss Nine pays strict attention to what I am making for dinner on the days that she has to wash. She doesn't like a lot of pots and pans. I often have to remind them to come back and wipe off the counters or empty the sink, but they are doing a fine job overall.

I remember hearing once that if your children are not ready to leave home by the time they are eighteen, you haven't done your job. So start those kindergarteners doing their own laundry. You will be glad you did.